Final answer:
The color representing lakes, swamps, rivers, and drainage on maps is blue. This is a common convention due to the natural color associations with water, and it also helps identify different types of water bodies and their characteristics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The color that represents lakes, swamps, rivers, and drainage on maps and charts is typically blue. This is a standard cartographic convention used worldwide to depict bodies of water. When exploring a map, it's common to see various bodies of water ranging from vast oceans to smaller streams and swamps all marked in different shades of blue. The reason for this color choice is partly due to the natural associations we make with colors: blue often signifies water as it reflects the color of the sky and seas. Additionally, different shades of blue or additional colors can be used to indicate water quality or drainage characteristics. For instance, areas with poor drainage may also be indicated by different colors representing the mineral content or sediment types in the water.